If growing your own Easter grass strikes you as a harebrained idea, well maybe it is. And maybe that's the point. 'Tis the season, after all. Before you dismiss this DIY as just another project for someone with too much time on their hands, reconsider it as an only-slightly-more-roundabout approach to making an omelet. And revel in the end result: a sweet spring-themed tabletop decoration that costs only pennies and demands only a modicum of patience. 

Photographs by Erin Boyle.

Above: I started with standard brown eggs from the farmers' market. Any egg will do—but I would have loved to see these sprouts coming out of pastel-colored or spotted eggs from Araucana or Welsummer hens, had I found those eggs at the market.

When I began to research growing wheat grass, I couldn't find one definitive tutorial. Everyone seemed to have a different method: there were folks who soaked their grains just once before planting them and others with a more complicated triple-soak and rinse approach. I found one camp of wheat grass enthusiasts who covered the tops of their seeds with soil, and others who let them sprout with no blanket of soil to protect them. The predicted sprout times varied wildly too: some said they saw sprouts in just a few days, others claimed sprouts came only after a week of waiting.

As usual: I wanted to find the least labor-intensive way in. In the end, I made a dozen green-topped eggs. One set of six had drainage holes and seeds covered in soil, the other had no drainage and seeds left out to breathe. I didn't bother with any rinsing or soaking at all. All of my eggs sprouted cheery green tops. Turns out the instructions vary so drastically because just about any method will yield the desired results: green grass, fast.

Above: Emptied and washed eggshells, ready for filling.

Above: Eggshells filled with potting soil, awaiting hard red winter wheat seeds. N.B.: Eggshells make good seed starting pots for any kind of seeds. If you start seeds for plants that you'd like to transplant to the garden, make sure to crush the shell before planting in the ground to give roots the proper space to grow.

Above: A dense single layer of wheat seed (also called wheat berries). No need to head to the nursery for seed; I found mine in the grains section of my local organic market.

Above: Eggs awaiting their green tops on a sunny windowsill. Don't worry too much about the seeds getting adequate sunlight—my eggs sprouted within three days in a north-facing window.

Above: Look for bright green tops after just four days and paler shoots even sooner. 

Above: I used a White Porcelain Egg Carton by Seletti to prop my eggs on the tabletop; $19.00 from Design Menagerie. If a porcelain egg carton isn't in your china cabinet, a paper egg carton with the top cut off looks just as sweet.

Above: Perfect on a tabletop, there's no reason why you can't repeat the same process in a lined Easter basket to create a bed of fresh grass for nesting chocolate eggs and jelly beans.

Above: Wheat grass eggs after six days.

Wheat Grass Easter Eggs

Materials:

• 6 eggs
• 2 cups of potting soil
• 1 cup (or so) of hard winter wheat (a 2-pound bag of Organic Hard Red Winter Wheat is $4.31 from Grain Place Foods)
• water
• dish soap
• hand drill or needle

Instructions:

1. Using the back of a knife, crack the very top of each egg being careful not to crack the egg in half. Once the egg is cracked, use your fingers to pick the cracked shell apart, widening the hole until it's big enough for the yolk and white to slip easily out. (Preserve the contents of your egg for use in an omelet later.)

2. Rinse out the inside of your empty eggshells with warm water and a small bit of dish soap.

3. Use a small hand drill or needle to poke a drainage hole in the bottom of your eggs. (I skipped this step in one of my two trials and didn't notice any difference. I also potted a glass jar of seeds just for fun and got a bushy crop of wheat grass in a vessel without any drainage to speak of.)

4. Mix 2 cups (or so) of potting soil with a small bit of water so that it's moist, but not soggy. Spoon the soil into each rinsed egg until full.

5. Cover the top of the soil with a single layer of hard winter wheat. For thick grass, the wheat should cover all of the visible soil, but it shouldn't be layered more than one seed thick. The eggs I topped off with a thin layer of soil seemed to yield tops that were slightly more lush than those I left bare, so feel free to add this step.

6. Water and place in a sunny window. Water daily. In both of my trials, I had green shoots within three days. 

For more easy Easter projects see DIY: Hanging Easter Posies and DIY: Easter Egg Radish Centerpiece on Remodelista.

More Stories from Gardenista

• DIY: Hanging Easter Posies
• Trend Alert: Black Pussy Willow
• Required Reading: The Exquisite Book of Paper Flowers by Livia Cetti

The summer of 2011, I painted my deck chairs pink. And so? My bold move was not as scandalous as the plot line of Herman Raucher’s coming-of-age film, "The Summer of '42" (in which a recently widowed young bride seduces a teenage boy on Nantucket Island), but in the context of coastal Connecticut home design, my act was racy and divisive.

Or at least that’s how I interpreted a comment from an acquaintance in town. “Now, Christine, I haven’t driven by to see your pink chairs yet, but I have to tell you, they have been the talk of the summer. Some people love them, and others... Well, let’s just say they don’t.”

Here’s how I managed to start the big debate of the summer of '11 in our sleepy, shoreline community. Care to weigh in?

Interested in seeing the less controversial decisions we made in our house remodel? See Minimal Moves for Maximum Impact in Christine's Connecticut House.

Photography by Christine Chang Hanway.

Above: The chairs that caused a mild furore in the summer of '11.

Above: The inspiration for my act of defiance? The previous summer, I spotted a matching pink door and flowers on this shingle house in Stonington, CT, a small historic New England fishing town.

Above: My favorite flowers are hydrangeas, and our house is surrounded with glorious hydrangea bushes of many different hues. While nothing says summer like hydrangeas, I also love the fact that they can be used throughout the year (see for yourself at Dried Hydrangeas, Two Ways).

Above: I sourced these untreated cedar hardwood chairs on eBay and set about selecting a color that would complement our house—and our hydrangea bushes.

Above: I was seeking a soft pink to blend in with the hydrangeas and the background gray of the house, which is painted Benjamin Moore's Stonington Gray. After several days of ruminating over Benjamin Moore pink paint cards, I selected Countryside Pink.

Above: I wanted my chairs on the porch to acknowledge sunshine, heat, and summer; the things we crave so dearly at this time of year. "When we see the pink chairs come out, we know it's summer," my supporters tell me. Tell us: what color would you have used in similar circumstances (and really, didn't Lily Pulitzer popularize pink and green as a color palette)?

Commonly associated with Valentine's Day, the color of "love" can be cloying and sweet. See 350 images of our favorite uses of Pink in our gallery of rooms and spaces and change your perspective forever.

This is an update of a post that originally ran on February 11, 2013 as part of our L'Amour issue.

More Stories from Gardenista

• Architect Visit: Color Therapy in the Canary Islands
• Hardscaping 101: Drip Irrigation
• 10 Easy Pieces: Outdoor Dining Chairs in Shades of Spring

There's something refreshing about outdoor dining chairs in color. Mix different shapes and shades to seat your guests for the season's first foray into outdoor dining. Here's a roundup of our favorite outdoor dining chairs in a bouquet of spring pastels.

Above: A collection of cafe chairs at Villa Augustus in the Netherlands. Photograph by Ingrid Jansen.

Above: The classic Marais A Side Chair in fresh powder blue; $195 at Industry West.

Above: The Bistro 1900 Stacking Chair from Fermob shown in linen; $718 for a set of two at French Bistro Furniture.

Above: The Jardiniere Garden Chair is a tough iron chair hidden under a coat of sweet minty paint; $248 at Terrain.

Above: The bistro chair never goes out of style, and the Fermob Bistro Metal Chair is the classic. Shown in a garden-friendly willow color, it is available for $216 for a pair at French Bistro Furniture.

Above: The Harry Wire Chair in Lilac comes with a removable vinyl cushion; $99 from Industry West. 

Above: Designed by Wieke Somers for Tectona, the Grasshopper Chair is made of powder-coated aluminum in grasshopper green; £240 through Tectona.

Above: A Remodelista favorite, the Fermob Luxembourg Side Chair shown in soft fjord blue; $694 for a set of two at French Bistro Furniture.

Above: The Sophia Pink Dining Chair is hand woven of pink resin rattan; currently on sale for $84.95 (down from $99.95) at CB2.

Above: Hee Welling's Stackable Hee Dining Chair for Danish line Hay is available in several appealing colors including yellow; $240 at A+R Store. 

Above: Throw a white chair into the mix, like the white Lucy Chair made by Los Angeles-based Bend; $450 at Potted and also available in other colors.

Interested in more options? See Gardenista's Outdoor Chair Collection.

Over on Remodelista get inspired by spring-colored dining at Hally's Parsons Green. 

More Stories from Gardenista

• Architect Visit: Color Therapy in the Canary Islands
• Hardscaping 101: Drip Irrigation
• A Scandal in New England (Pink Paint Is Involved)

In a recent editorial meeting, the subject of drip irrigation came up. As Michelle considered to whom she might assign the post, I found myself volunteering from the UK across the ocean through various time zones. My offer landed in our digital meeting room with a moment of silence. Then with raised eyebrows (yes, Michelle, I can see that level of detail on my computer screen), she said, “You, our reluctant gardener, want to do a post on drip irrigation?” Unoffended, I explained that I was intrigued by the concept of drip irrigation as the lazy person’s (referring to myself only) solution to keeping plants well fed and happy—not to mention the environmental benefits of delivering water straight to plants' roots—and I wanted to know more.

Was I right? Let’s just say I am contemplating quitting the day job soon and turning my attentions toward applying the principles of drip irrigation on growing teens, boys in particular. Just think about how much extra time we would all have if someone cracked that. Read on to see what else I found about drip irrigation.

Above: A drip irrigation system delivers water to the purple kale in the Yountville garden of The French Laundry. Photograph via Eat A Duck I Must.

What is drip irrigation?

Drip (trickle, micro, or localized) irrigation benefits plants and crops by delivering water straight to their roots on a slow drip, thereby saving water and fertilizer. As the global water shortage becomes increasingly critical, drip irrigation seems to be the buzzword on every gardener's tongue. Far from being a new trend, though, the concept has been around for centuries since farmers in China started to control the flow of water using unglazed pots placed near trees. The water, after periodically filling the pots, would seep through the clay walls slowly, delivering water to the roots of the tree.

These days? A basic drip irrigation system includes a network of tubes with emitters to release water evenly across the network. 

Above: Graphic by Dalilah Arja.

This diagram illustrates the key components of a drip irrigation system. It's not as scary as it looks; the valve controls water flow into the system, which can be set for either automatic or manual control.

The backflow preventer makes sure there's no reverse flow and stops contaminated water from entering the clean water supply.

A pressure regulator keeps water flowing at a steady rate to the drip system, and the filter removes sediment and debris that can clog an irrigation system.

Tubing adapters and fittings attach the drip tubing to the rest of the system. (Drip tubing is a polyethylene tube which carries the water; emitters release the water from the drip tubing, and end caps are used to plug the end of the drip tubing to keep the water from flowing out.) Porous Soaker Hoses which ooze water along the entire length can be used in lieu of emitters. 

Simple, no?

Why is drip irrigation good for the environment?

Drip irrigation is efficient. It delivers water directly to the root zone of a plant, so less water is lost from evaporation or runoff, which has the added benefit of reducing erosion. This is particularly good for mulched areas because the water can soak the mulch without washing it away.

According to the editors at Organic Gardening, studies show that “well-designed drip systems use at least 30 to 50 percent less water than other methods such as sprinklers.”

Above: An adjustable sprayer attached to a drip irrigation system. Photograph by Michelle Slatalla.

Why is drip irrigation good for plants?

Drip irrigation delivers water at a consistent rate. When plants get all the water they need, their growth is not inhibited by water stress (which occurs when there isn’t enough water to extract from the soil). Happily fed plants, like children, grow more quickly (like weeds, dare we say?) and are much more productive. An added bonus is that even as drip irrigation encourages plants to grow, the system discourages weeds. Because the flow of water is directed at your plants' roots, the soil surface remains drier and less likely to germinate seeds of weeds.

Which has me wondering, would drip-fed teenage boys—who from my experience are always hungry—always work hard and be happy as well?

Above: Turn a water trough into a raised bed. The homeowner attached an irrigation hose through the trough's drainage hole. For step-by-step instructions see Steal This Look: Water Troughs as Raised Beds. Photograph by Marla Aufmuth.

What’s in it for the gardener? 

With an initial outlay of time and cost for planning and installation, the gardener who invests in a drip irrigation system will have the assurance that the garden is being effectively watered with a minimum expenditure of effort and cost. 

Above: Installing drip irrigation in a raised bed edible garden in LA. Photograph via Pam Rownak. 

How much does installing drip irrigation cost?

The cost to install a drip irrigation system averages from $2.50 to $4.50 per square foot, depending on labor costs in your region. 

You can eliminate labor costs by installing it yourself.

How do I install a DIY drip irrigation system?

For DIY’ers, the best advice is to start simple and small. There are many companies that sell Irrigation Kits for specific garden types including garden beds, decks, and individual plants. As your confidence increases, a simple drip irrigation system can be expanded and added on to as required. This set of comprehensive and accessible "how to" videos on Dripworks has inspired me to install a drip irrigation system in our London garden. 

Above: Drip irrigation systems can work with container plants. Photograph via Hydroponics Economics.

Drip Irrigation Recap

Pros:

• Water saving because plants are fed more efficiently
• Cost efficient because you are saving water
• Time saving for the gardener as less effort is required to water the plants

Cons:

• Initial cost and time outlay 
• Parts and fittings require upkeep to keep things working efficiently

A Stylish Way to Water Your Plants While You're Away takes the drip irrigation principle indoors. If drip irrigation isn't for you, see our catalog for some favorite Watering Cans. And over on Remodelista, Jen Leone of Leone Design Studio has some suggestions for colonizing a roof space with a trellis to create an outdoor garden in Brooklyn. 

More Stories from Gardenista

• Architect Visit: Color Therapy in the Canary Islands
• 10 Easy Pieces: Outdoor Dining Chairs in Shades of Spring
• A Scandal in New England (Pink Paint Is Involved)

When its shutters are closed, this building's facade is an all-white picture of minimalism. But each shutter opens to reveal a candy-colored backside that hints at a deeper story within.

Designed by locally based Romera y Ruiz Architects, the building is a public housing project located on Gran Canaria, the second most populated island in the Canary Islands. Inside the development, each apartment's windows open onto three narrow, brightly colored courtyards—blue at the center, green to the side, and ochre at the back—that engage each apartment in a richly hued dialogue.

Photographs courtesy of Romera y Ruiz and Architizer, except where noted.

Above: When the shutters are closed, the all-white building reflects sunlight away from its surface. Each window is located in a small recess, meant to shade the glass from pounding direct sunlight and from hurricane-strength winds, when they occur.

Above: When the facade shutters are open, their colorful painted backsides show hints of the three interior courtyards within.  

Above: Light and shadows redefine the courtyard spaces throughout the day. The windows in each apartment's circulation spaces open onto the green courtyard, meant to evoke a feeling of serenity. 

Above: The blue courtyard is linked to the entrance spaces of each apartment; it's meant to provide a feeling of freshness and calm.

Above: The ochre-colored courtyard is linked only to bedrooms throughout the apartments. (Each apartment contains at least three bedrooms.) It appears black at night for sleeping, but the bright color is meant to inspire vitality and energy come morning.

Above: It's no accident that the courtyards are dark. Located in a very hot climate, they're meant to stay cool. All three are linked via passive ventilation methods. 

Above: The entire development is designed to be a color-changing exploration, guiding residents through colorful vestibules, hallways, and slots of light. Here, ochre-colored light floods an interior stairwell. Photograph courtesy of Dezeen. 

Above: The recessed, shuttered windows make the facade look pleated.

For more über-modern outdoor spaces, see Outbuilding of the Week: All-in-One Henhouse, Toolshed, and Art Gallery; Architect Visit: In India, Housing for Elephants and Their People; and on Remodelista, Extreme Repurposing in Sydney, Tin Shed Edition. 

More Stories from Gardenista

• Hardscaping 101: Drip Irrigation
• 10 Easy Pieces: Outdoor Dining Chairs in Shades of Spring
• A Scandal in New England (Pink Paint Is Involved)

Easter, and spring in general, has us in the mood for pastel planters. Here are our favorites in subtle sherbet shades that won't overpower your flowers.

Above: Made in Belgium, these chalky planters from SMUG come in a variety of shades and sizes. Pictured here, their Pink Plant Pot and Mint Plant Pot in the small size; £7. Other pretty pastels include a small Seafoam Plant Pot; £7, and a large Peppermint Plant Pot; £10.

Above: Ceramicist Elizabeth Benotti hand forms these pleasingly pale mini planters in her New Hampshire studio. Available by custom order, her Pinched Porcelain Cup Planters come in peach pink, sage, sky, mustard, and purple gray colors in a satin finish, as well as glossy white; $34.

Above: Available in several pastel shades including celery, coral, sage, and sky, West Elm's 4-inch Chalkboard Planters make for easy labeling; $8.

Above: Crafted in the Bay Area from birch plywood, Yield Design's small planter boxes also come in large and window box sizes. Shown here, the Salmon Planter Box and the Grey Planter Box; $48 each.

Above: From Italy, Etsy vendor The Good Machinery makes this wonderfully wonky Asphalt Planter Vase in pale pink; $29.

Above: Boskke's clever pastel planters are made from recycled plastic. Shown here, the Recycled Small Blue Sky Planter and Recycled Small Pink Sky Planter; $17.95 each. See The Hanging Kitchen Garden for more on Boskke's hanging planters.

Want more pastels in the garden? See 10 Easy Pieces: Outdoor Dining Chairs in Shades of Spring. On Remodelista, see pastel vases inspired by nature: Soft Touch: Pastel Pottery by Lenneke Wispelwey.

More Stories from Gardenista

• Trending on Remodelista: It's the Little Things
• Urban Gardener: Is It OK to Reuse Potting Soil?
• Trending on Remodelista: Passage to India

Vic Brotherson is a London florist whose fresh, anything-goes approach keeps her busy with customers, whether they're seeking a small bouquet or an impossibly glamorous wedding (hint: Kate Moss). We hopped over to her shop Scarlet & Violet in northwest London for a visit:

Photographs by Berta Bernad Cifuentes.

Above: Flowers, pots, and seats spill out on the forecourt of Scarlet & Violet, located on Chamberlayne Road, London, where Kensal Rise meets Queen's Park; in other words, the outer reaches of Notting Hill.

Above: Although she takes inspiration from the flower market at New Covent Garden, Vic Brotherson believes that every arrangement starts with the vessel. She has loads, including those in all shades of white, pale enamel (above), and eccentric swan shapes for festive occasions.

Above: Vic Brotherson grafting with her team. After spending a dozen years selling flowers from an outdoor stall in Notting Hill, she is grateful to have moved into a solid structure.

Vic, who is from Cumbria, runs the shop and cut flower business with her two sisters. Each contributes different qualities—design, managing, and business acumen—to Scarlet & Violet.

Above: Having studied fine art at the Ruskin School in Oxford, Vic drifted into flowers when she asked for a job with legendary florist (and Notting Hill stallholder) Nikki Tibbles of Wild at Heart.

Above: Scarlet & Violet is a favorite among London's fashion editors and stylists. For the wedding of Kate Moss, the main flower ingredients were David Austin English Roses and lily-of-the-valley.

Above: June is wedding month because it's the time of roses and peonies. July, says Vic, will bring more cottage garden-style flowers. (Avoid getting married in August, she says.) The simplest arrangement ever? A glass or vase of herbs.

Above: Vic is sought for the fresh, country feel of her flowers. Though they are not all British, they have the kind of relaxed, non-floristy feel of flowers arranged at home.

Above: A new book by Vic Brotherson is out this month called Vintage Wedding Flowers; $28.69 on Amazon. Her other book is called Vintage Flowers and features many vintage containers as well as atmospheric flowers.

More Stories from Gardenista

• DIY: Forsythia for a Bright Easter Table
• Supermarket Tulips Transformed: A Ten Dollar Bouquet
• Everyday Flowers with Los Angeles Floral Artist Lili Cuzor

As someone who until very recently made my own home in a studio apartment, I have a certain fondness for tiny spaces. And when I spotted this garage-turned-apartment designed by Sarah Trotter of Hearth Studio in Melbourne, Australia, it was love at first sight.

The apartment is my favorite kind of small space—one that uses area efficiently and manages to look bright and airy despite the small dimensions. The clawfoot tub and views of the garden aren't bad, either.

Photographs by Lauren Bamford.

Above: Many of the elements inside the studio apartment were repurposed or salvaged—everything including the kitchen sink. (See 10 Easy Pieces: Leather Cabinet Hardware for lookalikes to the rustic pulls shown here.)

Above: A vestige of the apartment's former life as a garage, the concrete floor retains the utilitarian look of the former workspace. (Got garage floors on the brain? See our post Hardscaping 101: Garage Flooring.)

Above: Simple shelving and low-profile bulkhead lighting details in the kitchen. (See 10 Easy Pieces: Outdoor Bulkhead Lighting for similar fixture options.)

Above: A salvaged clawfoot tub takes center stage in the bathroom area (not to be outdone by the impressive Splitleaf Philodendron). A large mirror helps brighten the apartment and give a sense of expanded space.

Above: Built onto a raised platform of salvaged wood, a simple bed. The architects took care to reposition windows to provide premium views of the neighboring gum trees, while also maintaining privacy for the homeowners.

Above: A wide-angle shot showing a sense of scale. 

For more outbuilding inspiration, see all of our Outbuilding of the Week posts. 

More Stories from Gardenista

• Garden Visit: Dan Pearson's Old Rectory
• Architect Visit: Barbara Chambers at Home in Mill Valley
• Garden Visit: A Green Palette at Christopher Bradley-Hole's Bury Court

When it comes to planning meals, I'm a fairly firm believer that the emphasis should be on the food. Everything else feels like distraction. But when holidays and guests and springtime are involved, I can't help but put just a little energy into tabletop decorations. At Easter, one of my favorite ways to brighten a table quickly is with fresh forsythia branches.

Neon yellow and as well-suited to carefully manicured lawns as they are to the sides of highways, forsythia can be found just about anywhere. This time of year, florists and grocery stores have forsythia ready for you by the bucketful. Here, a simple idea for dressing up your Easter table.

Photographs by Erin Boyle.

Above: The supplies for this last-minute Easter table setting are simple and easily exchangeable for what you have on hand. I used simple linen napkins, forsythia branches, twine and an upholstery needle, and hollow quail eggs.

Above: I purchased a set of 12 hollow quail eggs from a local florist but you can often find them in craft stores. A set of a dozen Hollow Blown Quail Eggs is $6 from Turnbull Farms via Amazon.

If you can't find hollow shells on short notice, quail eggs are commonly sold in Asian markets and specialty food stores. You can use a needle to poke two holes in the shell and blow out the yolks yourself. Just give them a good wash first.

Above: I used an upholstery needle to thread thin twine through the two holes in the hollow eggs. The eggs are fairly fragile, so it's worth it to do this part slowly. Make sure the eye of the needle is small enough to pass through both holes easily.

Above: I'm a fan of keeping table linens simple so they can be dressed up with something from the garden. I love using these soft white Khadi Vintage Linen Napkins from Caravan as a simple starting point; four for $80.

Above: I tied the twine twice around a rolled up napkin and finished it with a simple knot. If your egg doesn't end up exactly in the center, you can carefully slide it along the piece of twine. If you'd like to prepare the napkins ahead of time, tie them loosely, without the forsythia, and then slide a small length of branch under the twine alongside (or directly underneath) your egg.

Above: I'm also partial to simple ceramic dinnerware that I can dress up according to my mood and the occasion. These creamy white Tourne Lunch Plates made in the US are $30 apiece at Brook Farm General Store.

Above: I prefer fresh flowers, but if you don't have access to fresh forsythia branches, you can find pretty good silk replicas online and in craft stores. Fresh branches should be kept in water, but the flowers are hardy enough that they can last several hours without water and still look perky.

I like putting clipped branches directly on the table instead of in vases, so they won't get in the way of conversations across the table. If you don't think you'll have time to clip branches proximate to dinner time, you might consider cutting short branches ahead of time and displaying them in small juice glasses instead.

Above: Finally, if you have a hunch that your guests will think the tiny quail egg looks good enough to eat, you might consider having a bowl of chocolate quail eggs on hand. Just in case.

Explore more: Hanging Easter Posies and Easter Egg Radish Centerpieces.

N.B.: This is an update of a post originally published on March 29, 2013.

More Stories from Gardenista

• Shopper's Diary: Scarlet and Violet
• Supermarket Tulips Transformed: A Ten Dollar Bouquet
• Everyday Flowers with Los Angeles Floral Artist Lili Cuzor

Spring is the time for pastels to shine in the garden, but this week the editors at Remodelista demonstrate that there are plenty of reasons to bring the soft colors inside, too. 

Here's what's caught our attention:

Above: Julie's House Call: Aurélie Lécuyer in France gives inspiration for an entryway rehab. (First on our list: starting a collection of smart straw fedoras.)

Above: Justine tempts us to splurge for a new spring vase in Soft Touch: Pastel Pottery by Lenneke Wispelwey. 

Above: Leigh has us convinced it's finally time to replace our muddy doormats in 10 Favorites: Handwoven Rugs in Lush Pastel Palettes.

Above: A candle-lit staircase leading to a rooftop swimming pool? That's just one perfect corner in Christine's House Tour: Pastels Go Rustic in an Italian Farmhouse. 

Above: Meredith shows us pastel drawers that we think look pretty perfect for stashing seed packets and hand trowels in An Organizer's Dream: An Art Studio with Color-Coded Built-In Storage.

More Stories from Gardenista

• 5 Favorites: Petal Colored Planters
• Trending on Remodelista: It's the Little Things
• Urban Gardener: Is It OK to Reuse Potting Soil?

This week, we featured pastel gardens, outdoor furniture, and planters among other candy-colored springtime stories. Erin showed us how empty egg shells can turn into a spring-themed decoration in just three days and we revisited Justine's delicate DIY for pretty Easter posies that can come together in even less time.

We're exploring sustainable landscapes and eco-friendly gardens in the week ahead just in time for Earth Day. While we gear up for that, let us show you a few things we've loved lately. 

• Above: Blooms overhead. Photograph via Yellow Trace. 
• A giant floral Easter egg from the Russian River Flower School. 
• Beet frosting?!

• Above: High fashion meets fine art. Photograph by Peter Lippman. 
• Asparagus in 90 seconds flat. 
• Peach fuzz. 

• Above: A tasty (and lovely looking!) morsel. Photograph via 101 Cookbooks. 
• Eggshell votives. 
• The 411 on compost. 

• Above: A pastel pruner.
• Walk this way. 

More Stories from Gardenista

• Current Obsessions: Spring Palette
• Current Obsessions: Living Simply
• The Road Not Taken: Robert Frost's Daffodils in Gloucestershire

Located on the grounds of a 19th century Dutch water tower, Villa Augustus offers a year-round bounty of color, in its vibrant flowers, lush gardens, and lively decor. This spring finds the Dordrecht hotel, and its restaurant and market, in full swing as it gears up for another season in bloom.

When she is not conjuring her own vibrant Wood and Wool creations, Dutch artist Ingrid Jansen is lucky enough to work at Villa Augustus. Here she lends her creative talents, conceiving many of the ever-changing bouquets as well as festive seasonal decor, pausing now and then to capture this inspiring place in her lens.

Photographs by Ingrid Jansen, unless otherwise noted.

Above: Surrounding the old 19th century water tower which now serves the 37-room hotel, the gardens of Villa Augustus offer up many of the flowers and vegetables for the restaurant and market. Image by Hetty.

Above: Here decked out for Easter, the dramatic chandelier in the dining room changes seasonally.

Above: On the Villa's grand terrace, pastel cafe chairs provide plenty of outdoor seating.

Above: Welcoming spring, hyacinth bulbs nest in an Easter basket.

Above: Villa Augustus' signature style: whimsical, jewel-tone accents enliven the interior as well as the grounds.

Above: One of Ingrid's arrangements provides a burst of color for the Villa's flower day.

Above: An arrangement by Ingrid (L) brightens a grand passage. Above: Forget-Me-Nots from the Villa's greenhouses (R) are on sale in the market.

Above: Golden Easter bunnies on offer in the market.

Above: Happily at work, Ingrid Jansen applies the finishing touches to one of her extemporaneous arrangements.

Above: Harvested from the Villa's own gardens, a bevy of bouquets await placement on the dining tables.

Above: A bounty of Villa Augustus produce in the market.

Above: In the market, spring bulbs await a new garden home.

Above L: Viewed from the tower, the patchwork landscape of the Villa Augustus cafe and garden. Above R: Overlooking the Wantij River on one side and the greenhouse and gardens on the other, the former water tower houses the Villa's accommodations.

Above: A quiet place to sit alongside a blue garden path. Image by Hetty.

N.B. Looking for more fresh Easter decor? Actress Diane Keaton keeps her Easter table simple but lovely on Remodelista.

This is an update of a post that originally ran on March, 25, 2013 as part of our Belgium and Beyond issue.

More Stories from Gardenista

• Steal This Look: Outfitting a Writer's Shed
• Table of Contents: Pretty in Pastel
• Required Reading: 5-Plant Gardens

In the hierarchy of pastimes that have a low-impact on the environment, we tend to think that gardening ranks pretty firmly near the top of the list. But there are some gardens that are greener than others, and we're not just talking about the color. This week, we're taking a look at sustainable garden and floral design, learning how scientists have been tracking climate change with the help of Thoreau, and giving plenty of inspiration for additions you might make to your own spring garden. Here's a preview of what's on the lineup:

Monday

Above: Meredith explores a stunning cabin on stilts designed by Olson Kundig in this week's Architect Visit. Photograph by Benjamin Benschneider.

Tuesday

Cynthia gets an exclusive tour of the living roof at the Academy of Sciences in San Francisco for this week's Garden Visit. Photograph by Liesa Johannssen.

Wednesday

It's no secret that gardening can take its toll on the knees. In this week's 10 Easy Pieces, Janet rounds up 10 planters that take bending out of the equation.

Thursday

Stumped by stoops? Ellen tackles the subject in this week's Hardscaping 101.

Friday

The must-have plant for spring? We're calling it scented geranium and Justine is giving us the all the details.

More Stories from Gardenista

• Trending on Remodelista: Seeing Spring
• 5 Favorites: Petal Colored Planters
• Trending on Remodelista: It's the Little Things

No leaking roofs, broken windows, or flooded basements here: this is a cabin for people who don't like surprises. 

Seattle-based Olson Kundig Architects designed a "virtually indestructible" cabin in the woods of Washington state's Olympic Peninsula for a couple who wanted a simple place to stay while fishing for steelhead. They required that it be a low-cost, no-maintenance cabin that could be left unattended—sometimes in harsh weather—for weeks at a time. The final product is a 350-square-foot timber box clad in unfinished mild steel standing on steel stilts. It exists in harmony with the wilderness—its small footprint is light on the land—while also functioning as a reinforced stalwart against it.

Photographs by Benjamin Benschneider.  

Above: The cabin's steel stilts allow for a truly minimal footprint on the land, while protecting the cabin from occasional flooding of the nearby river. The architects had most of the cabin prefabricated offsite, reducing the disruption to the cabin site by construction.

Above: The cabin is "open" when a series of steel shutters are rolled back to reveal a wall of windows, operated via a hand wheel that sets into motion a mechanical system of gears and cables. When closed, the steel shutters cover the cabin's windows, effectively sealing it off from the elements.  

Above: A balcony with a mesh floor juts out from the cabin on the side facing the river. Inside, the double-height cabin interior is lined with wood panels. The living, dining, kitchen, and bathroom areas are on the main floor, and a sleeping loft with storage shelving is overhead.

In the interest of frugality—fiscal and environmental—the architects used the client's stock of leftover lumber to build the sleeping loft: they stacked, glued, and bolted 2-by-4-inch lumber together to create a nontraditional hardwood floor.

Above: The cantilevered roof hangs over the edge of the cabin to provide shade and protection from coastal storms. 

We're fans of Olson Kundig. See more in Garage Envy: 10 Sleekly Styled Garages and on Remodelista, A Master Architect Builds a Tiny Cabin in the Pacific Northwest.

More Stories from Gardenista

• Architect Visit: Color Therapy in the Canary Islands
• Hardscaping 101: Drip Irrigation
• 10 Easy Pieces: Outdoor Dining Chairs in Shades of Spring

Australian-born Anna Macoboy has a love affair with plants, gardening, and in recent years the versatile material of concrete. After relocating from Perth to Brooklyn she decided to open Tasi Masi, an online store stocked with handmade concrete planters, kokedama, gilded leaf prints, and vintage ceramic jugs, among other treasures that Macoboy refers to as "nature art." The shop is inspired by the Japanese concept of wabi-sabi: "the appreciation of the imperfections of nature and the transience of natural beauty."

Among all of the shop's offerings, we're particularly taken by the concrete planters. Macaboy explained her fondness for concrete in a recent interview by Homemade Modern: "I am obsessed with concrete and think it is such a fantastically beautiful, natural and sustainable material. I particularly love the way it weathers over time and develops its own beautiful patina." Macaboy went on to say that she loves the materials because it's "affordable, accessible and customizable."

Maybe that's where our own love affair with her planters stems from, too.

See examples from Macaboy's collection of concrete planters below:

Above: The Tiny Concrete Planter—just 1.5 inches by 3 inches—comes painted in white, pink, or gold. All of the Tasi Masi concrete planters are finished in a water-based sealant to avoid leakage and can be purchased empty or planted with a cacti or similar indoor plant that will thrive without drainage. The Tiny Concrete Planter is $18 for an empty planter and $22 for a planter with a plant.

Above: Larger round planters in the collection measure 7.5 inches in diameter and 3 inches tall. The Dipped Concrete Planter has been hand-dipped in white, pink, or gold paint. The planter can be ordered unplanted for $55, or planted for $65.

Above: The Striped Concrete Planter gets its color from a modern triangle painted down the side of the pot. Available in white, pink and gold, the planter can also be ordered unplanted for $55, or planted for $65.

Above: The Plain Concrete Planter doesn't have a colorful swatch, but  textured top studded with tiny pebbles makes it stand out from the crowd; available unplanted for $55 or planted for $65.

Above: Anna Macoboy, owner of Tasi Masi, holding on of her concrete planters. To learn more, visit Tasi Masi.

Looking for more planters? Here are all our Gardenista Planter posts. Also, make sure to check out our Gallery for more inspiration. Remodelista has you covered when it comes to Colorful Concrete Planters. 

More Stories from Gardenista

• Easter at Villa Augustus in the Netherlands
• Steal This Look: Outfitting a Writer's Shed
• Table of Contents: Pretty in Pastel

Alyssum, Lobularia maritima: "Flower Carpet"

Don’t be fooled by sweet alyssum’s dainty appearance. While this petite flower—often found in cottage gardens—looks delicate and charming, it was once thought powerful enough to treat bites from rabid animals. And in the world of magic and witchcraft, it is used to calm anger and to inspire peace and emotional balance.

Which is easy enough to believe.  A whiff of its soft, honey-like scent can be instantly soothing, and you can’t help but feel cheered up by the tiny, ground-hugging mounds that will bloom for months at a time with practically no effort on your end.

Above: For more, see our Gardenista Gallery for images of Alyssum.

Whether in the ground or in pots, sweet alyssum is as at home when planted between herbs and around vegetable beds as it is when grown alongside other bloomers like catmint, lavender, salvia, and roses. Beneficial insects (the good bugs that eat the bad bugs) love it, and a lesser known fact is that it’s edible too. A relative of mustard, it has flowers and leaves with a spicy, pungent taste that are a delicious addition to salads. 

Cheat Sheet:

• A ground cover that's particularly charming between dry-laid pavers.
• Its fragrance will attract beneficial insects.
• A good companion to lavender, herbs, low growing salvias, catmint, bulbs, and vegetables.

Keep It Alive:

• Thrives in full or part sun.
• Needs regular water.
• An annual, it's happy to re-seed itself; leave spent blooms in place.

Above: A packet of Dwarf White Alyssum seeds will germinate in from seven to 14 days; $2.99 from Grow Organic.

And it’s one of the easiest plants to grow—all it wants from you is a spot in sun or part sun, and regular water (though some are quite drought tolerant once they’ve settled in). After frost has passed in spring, you can start from seed or seedlings; plant it in full or part sun, spacing plants 6 to 8 inches apart. Water regularly. 

Above: Photograph by Sherry Yoder.

Some varieties can reach a foot wide and as tall, though most remain shorter. In most regions, sweet alyssum blooms mainly in spring and fall, though it will continue flowering through summer in cooler areas and during winter in warm climates. After flowers fade, shear them off to bring on another flush of blooms.

Read More:

Above: See more stories about Alyssum. 

Have another plant query? Visit our ever-expanding Gardenista Field Guide.

More Stories from Gardenista

• Scents and Sensibility: The Scented Geranium is Spring's Must-Have Plant
• Global Warming: Tracking Climate Change, Courtesy of Thoreau
• Field Guide: Lily of the Valley

No groomed garden is this. In San Francisco, the California Academy of Sciences' living rooftop is suffused with the beauty of the natural world. Planted strictly with natives, it feels almost like a wilderness, like a resting spot found during a hike on California’s coast. Generally, one's view of the garden is limited to the observation deck, during the museum’s open hours. We were allowed to tread—as lightly as we could—between the hills, on a special tour.

Photographs by Liesa Johannssen for Gardenista.

Above: The hill of Grandview Park, as seen from the garden deck, served as inspiration for the rooftop. Architect Renzo Piano, who designed the garden, wanted the space to blend seamlessly with the landscape, as if a piece of land had been lifted and the building with its technologically advanced solar panels and round windows inserted beneath it. 

Above: The rooftop was originally planted with California natives that can take drought, foggy days, and wind. The hills trap cool air, and the windows open to ventilate and cool the building. The rooftop lowers the building temperatures by ten degrees. 

Above: The arrangement of plants is influenced more by wind, rain, and watering than meticulous pruning and plantings. In areas of the garden with the strongest wind, perennial low-lying wild strawberries (Fragraria chiloensis) do best. The fruit feeds the birds. 

Above: Self-heal (Prunella vulgaris), amid a tangle of yarrow and strawberry, can dominate when the garden is abundantly watered and fed. Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) and strawberry are some of the best plants for rooftop gardens, and for drought-tolerant gardens in general.

Above: Branches and logs are left purposefully for wood-nesting native bees. 

Above: A native bee perches on purple Phacelia, about to bloom.

Above: A more bizarre sight is the bones of a beached whale, left to dry. The museum cleans and dries skulls for its collection on the roof.

Above: Although 30 species of birds find food and water in the garden, pigeons don’t. The solar panels, such as the ones behind this bee house, are too hot for their feet, and they prefer pavement to grasses.

Above: Sometimes established plants are removed as an experiment to see what new plant will take advantage of the open soil. The red and white pebbles are volcanic rock, which makes up 45 percent of the soil’s content and lightens the garden’s weight on the roof. 

Above: To keep soil from sliding down the slopes, BioTrays made of coconut coir from design firm Rana Creek line the rooftop’s floor. The plants’ roots lace through and interlock the trays over time. For more information, see Rana Creek.

Perhaps because the rooftop is a quiet place, birds have chosen it as a place to nest. Last March, a nest of a killdeer with four eggs in it was found on the roof. The area surrounding the nest was closed off, to leave the birds in peace. 

Above: The Academy of Sciences is at 55 Music Concourse Drive, San Francisco, CA. Museum hours are from 9:30 am to 5 pm from Monday to Saturday, and from 11 am to 5 pm on Sundays.

For a green roof on a residential scale, see Roof Garden: Cottages in the Mill Valley Forest and Architect Visit: Green Roof Design by Goode Green in New York on Remodelista.

More Stories from Gardenista

• 10 Easy Pieces: Wooden Elevated Planters
• Outbuilding of the Week: Garage Turned Studio Apartment
• Garden Visit: Dan Pearson's Old Rectory

At Gardenista, we appreciate spaces that manage to be both beautiful and basic at the same time. This one-room cabin on Salt Spring Island in British Columbia achieves the balance perfectly.

We're especially partial to the kitchen—though we're not even sure we can call it that—for being both supremely simple and stylishly kitted out. For the whole project, see A Master Architect Builds a Tiny Cabin in the Pacific Northwest on Remodelista. (And for more from Olson Kundig, see yesterday's post Architect Visit: Olson Kundig Cabin on Stilts.)

Above: The spare but well-equipped cabin kitchen. Photograph by Tim Bies courtesy of Olson Kundig.

In this tiny house the kitchen, bedroom, and bathroom (well, toilet) are all in one room. Below, I've taken on the task of finding the elements that tie all three spaces together.

Above: Tucked into the corner, the freestanding stove looks like it's the Pina wood burning stove by Denmark-based Rais which can be installed to rotate 360 degrees. For more, see 10 Easy Pieces: Freestanding Wood Stoves. Photograph by Narayan Mahon courtesy of Dwell.

Above: I love the black metal tool chest in the middle of the room, presumably not storing tools. Several companies make a basic black metal tool chest, but I'm partial to the Husky 27-Inch 5-Drawer Cabinet; $109 at The Home Depot. (For the full story on how I came to love it, see Remodeling Project: The Storage Closet Reinvented on Remodelista.)

Above (L): On top of the tool chest, I spotted the white enamel Sockerart Vase from Ikea; $19.99 for the 12-inch size. (We've featured this vase—one of our all-time favorites—on Remodelista before. See Steal This Look: English Writing Shed for one of many examples.) (R): And in the kitchen, I see a thermos for keeping soup or coffee hot. For a similar option (and office favorite), the 100th Anniversary Stanley Vacuum Bottle in vintage green is $42.

Above: The cabin is outfitted with a diminutive vintage-style refrigerator. The Summit Appliance 1.8 Cubic Foot Mini Refrigerator in white is a similarly sized option; $219 at The Home Depot.

Above: The core of the kitchen is a stainless commercial work table with an integrated sink. This Work Table with Sink from John Boos (the same company that makes ever-reliable Boos butcher blocks) is $813.75 at The RD Store.

Above: Up high on a kitchen shelf I spy a cabin must-have, a tea kettle. (L): This similar vintage Green Enamelware Teapot was made in Poland and has a lid affixed with an aging but functioning chain; $24 from Objects of Matter on Etsy. (R): For a contemporary version, the Stansport Back Pack Kettle in black is $24.64 at Walmart. 

Above: The toilet is somewhat oddly close to the kitchen, so the two might share the set of towels stashed below the kitchen sink. Target sells a 3-Piece Towel Set in super orange for $11.97.

Above: A cowhide rug spanning the cabin floor gives a sense of scale. For a similar look, search for an unbleached cowhide rug. A Brazilian Off-White Cowhide Rug is $419 from Jersey Road. 

Above: Over the tool chest, a nautical map of Salt Spring Island. Similar antique maps are well-stocked on Etsy. We like this 1904 Map of the Gulf of Finland; $16.95 from Cabinet of Treasures.

Have cabin fever? See Into the Woods: A Cabin on Flathead Lake; Outbuilding of the Week: An Island Cabin, Sauna Included; and on Remodelista, A Tiny Garden Cabin in the Netherlands. 

More Stories from Gardenista

• Outbuilding of the Week: Tiny Glass Houses on Dry Creek
• Hardscaping 101: Front Stoops
• Architect Visit: Olson Kundig Cabin on Stilts

When was the last time you walked into a bar and were greeted not with the odor of stale beer, but instead with the sweet fragrance of cut flowers? If the answer is "never," I suggest you take a trip to the Sycamore Bar in the Brooklyn neighborhood of Ditmas Park. It's a serious drinkers' establishment offering an international selection of 75 premium bourbons and whiskeys, but you'll know it's not an ordinary bar when you see the sign for the $10 "Beer and Bouquet" special.

The flowers you get with your beer come from Stems, the teeny flower shop located just inside Sycamore's front door. For a few hours six days a week, Stems and the Sycamore Bar overlap business hours. You can come in, order a custom arrangement, proceed to the bar (or its spacious garden), and enjoy a drink. When you are ready to leave, you can pick up your flowers on the way out. The Sycamore website sums up the philosophy behind the unlikely combination of flora and alcohol: "Booze and flowers, what could be better?!" 

Photographs by Nicole Franzen for Gardenista.

 
Above: Patrons entering the Sycamore in the afternoon get to peruse the floral merchandise. 

Above: Bar stools at the ready in the Sycamore.

Stems owner Suzanna Cameron, a former dental technician and television production assistant, describes her business as a pop-up shop, one that is taken down each evening and assembled anew each morning. Bar patrons who come in at night when Stems is closed might easily be unaware the shop even exists. However, Susanna says there are advantages to sharing her space with the bar. She can leave arrangements with the bartender when customers are unable to pick up their orders before the shop closes. Empty whiskey bottles make for interesting vases and the Sycamore produces an unlimited supply.

Above: Because the shop gets set up every day, Cameron enjoys experimenting with rearranging the stock.

Above: Flowers are removed to a refrigerator in the basement each night, but Cameron is hoping to add a small display refrigerator in the shop, if she can just find the room.

Above: Making maximum use of limited space.  

Cameron has been the proprietor of Stems for just over a year. The original business was known as the flower shop at the Sycamore and opened in 2008. She discovered it when she moved to the neighborhood and, just barely of drinking age, became a patron of the bar. Flowers were not really on her radar then, but she was struck by the unusual blooms and naturalistic style at the Sycamore. When the owners offered her a job and training in flower arranging, she accepted. Later when they wanted to turn the shop over to a new owner, Cameron decided to take a chance on running her own business. 

Above: Airplant terrariums are popular with people who don't have time for conventional house plants.

Cameron opened just before Valentine's Day in 2013 and was swamped with holiday business. It's now a year later and Cameron believes she has found her creative niche with the unusual flowers she buys from such local sources such as the Brooklyn Grange rooftop farm and Strawhill Farms in the Catskills. In winter, cold weather reduces what she can buy locally, but she tries to limit her purchasing to the U.S., frequently bringing in flowers from California.

Above: Cameron advises patrons to trim the stems of cut flowers every day and keep them out of direct sun.

Above: Stems does floral arranging for weddings and other special events and offers one day workshops in flower arranging and related activities such as floral crown making and terrarium building. In case you had any doubt, the fees for the workshops include botanically inspired cocktails and a guaranteed party atmosphere.

Want to read about other shops that sell naturalistic arrangements? Check out Wild Beauty: Fowlers Flowers in Melbourne, Australia on Remodelista. Prefer to sip coffee while you shop for flowers? See Caffé Spina in Greenpoint Brooklyn.

More Stories from Gardenista

• Recipe: Tea Cake with Meyer Lemons and Rose Geraniums
• DIY: Forsythia for a Bright Easter Table
• Shopper's Diary: Scarlet and Violet

It's about time someone created a beautiful website dedicated to supporting the local flower movement.  The goal of Field to Vase, which has a fast-growing directory of flower farms all over the United States, is "to bring like-minded people in the local flower movement together to share their expertise."

"We believe very strongly that it's going to take all of us working together to disrupt the current state of the industry," writes Field to Vase's founder, Christina Stembel, a florist who owns Farmgirl Flowers. 

The new website has a blog to spotlight florists and growers and to offer advice to flower farmers. Wondering how to stretch a 120-day growing season into six months? Field to Vase has the answer. The blog currently features farms across the country, from Pennsylvania to California. 

An online digits page dishes out important—and sometimes unbelievable—facts about the flower industry. Did you know that 80 percent of flowers sold in the U.S. are imported from other countries? Or that of all flowers grown domestically, 77 percent are from California?

A resource page shares books, websites, and articles for interested growers hoping to learn more. As a florist, I am very excited to see what farms Field to Vase will discover and feature next. 

Above: Daffodils from Floret Flower Farm's Erin Benzakein, a Field to Vase featured grower in Washington's fertile Skagit Valley. Photograph by Erin Benzakein. Read more about Erin in our story: 7 Tips to Grow Cut Flowers in a Tiny Garden.

Above: Garden roses grown by Dawn Severin on her wholesale flower farm, All My Thyme, also in Northwest Washington's Skagit Valley. Dawn's work is dedicated to hand-tending English garden roses and other flowers, as well. You can read her grower spotlight on Field to Vase. Photograph by Dawn Severin.

Above: Unopened peonies from All My Thyme. Photograph by Dawn Severin.

Above: Roses from Windmill Farm in Northern California. Paula and Frank, the husband and wife owners of the farm, sell fruits, vegetables, and flowers. Their plan in 2014 is to set up a flower CSA membership and to deliver weekly bouquets. They sell wholesale and directly to customers. Read their grower spotlight on Field to Vase to learn more about their farm.

Above: A beautiful dahlia arrangement from Emily Daniel, owner of Basil and Bergamot Flower Farm in Franklin, Tennessee. Daniel is a featured Field to Vase Grower. Photograph by Emily Daniel.

Above: A dahlia closeup from Basil and Bergamot. Photograph by Emily Daniel.

For more on flower farmers, see Urban Flower Farm: Love 'n Fresh Flowers in Philadelphia and 12 Tips For Growing Cutting Flowers from Barberry Hill Farm.

More Stories from Gardenista

• Trending on Remodelista: Low Impact, High Style
• Shopper's Diary: Rare (and Delicious) Pigs from Australia's Bundarra Berkshires
• Table of Contents: Going Green